Even inhibited by endless earth-born constraints, human beings have always pined for immortality.

The image of the Tree of Life connects souls across time and space. We see the Ṭūbā tree in the Quran. The Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge in the Bible. Pantao of Wang Mu (sacred peach of the Queen Mother Goddess) in the Han Chinese belief. The Gunungan that opens an Indonesian Wayan kulit (shadow puppet). Numerous varieties of expressions of Tree of Life across South Asia. The Tree of Life of Malaysian Ibans that connects this world and the upper one. The Tree of Life condenses and symbolizes our celebration, prayer, submission and appreciation in the face of immortality.

The specially curated, internationally touring Tree of Life Exhibition brings 67 pieces of traditional crafts and contemporary creation from 16 countries in Asia and beyond to showcase diversified beliefs and artistic representations of ‘Tree of Life’ across cultures, communities, histories, and geographies. The artists harvested materials, fiber, lacquer, metal, wood, bamboo and clay, from the lands they are rooted in. In the shape of trees or with metaphoric spinning, they try to respond to endless calls for immortality from mortal souls. Starting in Malaysia, visiting India, Hawaii and Canada in past three years, finally arriving Taiwan in 2018, the exhibition has inspired diversified interactions across the soils it set foot. Trees may not be the typical motif of Taiwanese crafts. Nevertheless the soil they are rooted in and the symbolic aspiration for the heaven they represent are common passion shared by all artists. In silent dialogues with artworks from South, Southeast, East and Central Asia, as well as other continents, Tree of Life Exhibition in Taiwan presents a space connecting human beings to immortality, beyond the limitation of time and locality.